View source for Silver Lining:Heart to Heart You'll Win

<episodenavigation>
name=Heart to Heart You'll Win
date=08/19/2022
episodenumber=5
</episodenavigation>
==Characters Introduced==

=== NPCs ===

# Sam Cane - Director, Producer, Promoter, and Head Writer of GLAM - Gorgeous Ladies Acting Martially - a woman's wrestling company that travels around inhabited systems.
# Andy Pygott - Owner and ring announcer
# Ozgun Husein - referee and medic
# Matilda Bloom, aka "Queen" Bertha Boomer - 6'3", 300 lb, red headed main attraction of GLAM, Queen Bertha is a force to be reckoned with in and out of the ring.
# Diamond Laroux, Holly Wood, Raven Dee Vine, and Knockout - other major performers with GLAM

== Locations ==

# Serpent City, Hydrus
# Empyrean Gym - where the ladies are training before the match
# Serpent City Mall, in front of the food court - location for a promotional event 
# Hydrus Galleria Convention Center Ballroom - the venue for the match

==Cold Open==
<syntaxhighlight lang="text">
Spinning spinning spinning. Everything is spinning. Then the spinning stops. But that's no relief when the woman, who had been carrying you on her, shoulders drops you onto her knee; the crowd lets out a cheer.
</syntaxhighlight>

== Scene 1 - Introductions ==
Sam Cane is standing next to a long, ancient sedan in the parking lot of the space port, puffing on a cigarette. He's average height, slight of build, wearing a pair of tight fighting jeans and a plaid flannel shirt with an open collar. His well coiffed black hair has greyed on the temples, and his mustache & goatee are perfectly maintained. He glances at you all as you approach. "You must be the security guys. Hop in. I'll give you a low down during the drive over."

He flicks away the nub of his cigarette as you all pile into the vehicle - it's big enough to just fit everyone, with some squeezing in the back seat, and he lights up another cigarette, seemingly unconcerned for the tight quarters. 

On the drive into the city, he explains he oversees a company of 20 or so lady wrestlers, they don't all wrestle each night, so everyone does a little bit here and there. Normally the ladies are enough to handle the usual security needs, along with whatever the venue can provide, but Sam is concerned. "There's been these jackasses, 'men's rights activists' they call themselves, who've been making a fuss about the show, mostly online. You guys just keep an eye out for them, make sure nothing happens at the show, that's all we really need.

The gym is basically a warehouse marked as "Empyrean Gym", converted to a practice space. When they enter, some of the women are practicing in the ring, others are stretching, weight training, going over moves individually, etc. Sam walks into the middle of the room, clapping his hands to get their attention.

"Ladies, ladies, ladies listen up, gather round.... ", almost everyone ignores. Queen Bertha is running the ropes while Sam is taking. He does his best to no be distracted by her. "Right, OK, so these guys are with Silver Lining Security. They're gonna make sure that these 'men's rights' guys don't fuck up our show. So.. yeah, make sure you show them the same respect you show me. That's it".

As Sam starts to walks away dejected, Queen Bertha calls out, still running the ropes, "So these little piss ants are supposed to protect us ''weak little ladies''?"

"C'mon Matilda, don't make this a thing"

"Oh, it's a thing, Sammy boy. Who's gonna protect these fellas here from us, huh? Are they gonna do anything but get in our way?" several of the ladies cheer out in agreement.

Bertha stops in the middle of the ring, and points at the PCs.

"I bet none of them are even ''man'' enough to take me on for ''three'' minutes in the ring. C'mon, any one of you, show me what you got!"

Whoever accepts, the give them a moment to get changed into wrestling tights, if they want. A ref joins Bertha in the middle of the ring.

{{CortexTest|diff=c}} Test to not make a fool of themselves getting into the ring.

== Scene 2 - Mano-a-Mano with Queen Bertha ==
{|class="wikitable" style="width:100%"
|style='width:50%;vertical-align: top'|{{CortexLocation|name=Empyrean Gym|description=A gym in the warehouse district of Serpent City, it's mainly a boxing gym, but is being used by GLAM today.|distinction1=The Canvas!|distinction1_value=8|distinction2=The Ropes!|distinction2_value=8|distinction3=Turn Buckle!|distinction3_value=8|width=100|distinction1_sfx1_name=Put-Over|distinction1_sfx1_effect=If an opponent would be [hed]Taken Out[/hed], spend a [pp]. The opponent instead takes a complication.}}
|style='width:50%;vertical-align: top'|{{CortexSLChar|name=Queen Bertha|description=6'3", 300 lb, red headed main attraction of GLAM, a force to be reckoned with in and out of the ring|gumshoe=8|pilot=4|gunner=4|larcenist=4|quartermaster=4|technophile=6|lawyer=6|mechanic=6|macher=8|raconteur=8|width=100|distinction1=Powerhouse|scrapper=10|capitalist=6|mental=6|social=8|physical=10|distinction3=Hulk|distinction2_value=8|distinction2=Master of the Ring|distinction1_value=8|medico=4}}
|}

Ozgun brings the two wrestlers together and leans in between the two of them.

"Okay, I want a good clean fight. No nasty stuff. And no nut shots on your opponent."

"Oh hell, ref!" Bertha protests, "That's hardly fair to me, he doesn't even have to worry about breaking that rule."

"You heard me. Now shake hands and get ready to fight."

Bertha puts out a hand to shake As they are shaking, the bell rings. She immediately pulls the player next to her, wrapping her up, and striking out with a leg towards Ozgun, hitting him between the legs. He stumbles off, clutching his crotch.

"Don't worry sonny," she whispers in the player's ear, "I'll go easy on you."

If a PC takes up Bertha's challenge, it will step up the final pay by one.

When the match starts, the PC taking Bertha on will immediately gain {{CortexExtra|name=Montreal Screwjob|value=8}} and a {{CortexDie|value=pp}}. This complication represents the interference and distraction the other wrestlers, who have encircled the ring are providing. They are not fighting fair, though Bertha is good to her word, she will purposely use lesser skills and attributes to "go easy" on the PC and hinder herself & the distinctions from the location, and will [[wikipedia:Glossary_of_professional_wrestling_terms#sell|sell]] the PC's attacks on her.

There are other rewards depending upon the outcomes.

# Just accepting her challenge and losing outright will earn the asset {{CortexExtra|name=Bertha's Favor|value=6}}after the match is over for the entire party.
# Lasting at least 3 minutes (3 separate contests)  against Bertha ''or'' doing something to impress her will step that asset up to {{CortexExtra|name=Bertha's Favor|value=8}}
# Managing to beat Bertha results in {{CortexExtra|name=Bertha's Favor|value=10}} If she is complicated out of the contest - the first time, Bertha ''will'' spend {{CortexDie|value=pp}}to prevent this. If she is able to avoid being taken out, she'll stop being so nice, and go for the taking the PC out on the next contest.

Afterwords: "not a bad job, sonny. now let's get you looked at." She'll bring the PC over to Ozgun for treatment, which will wipe any complications. If a PC asks Ozgun about the nut shot early in the match, he taps an athletic cup on a nearby table and smiles, stating "Everything is a here is some kind of [[wikipedia:Kayfabe|kayfabe]], didn't you know that?"

At the end of the day, Sam calls everyone together. 

"Schedule for tomorrow:

7 am, breakfast here and practice

9 am, final call sheet and storylines get posted by my office.

11 am, the top five ladies on the call sheet are doing a promotion at a nearby mall - ''Silver Lining'' guys, you'll be going with them

Noon, lunch.

2pm, the promotion will be over, come back here for final rewrites refinements.

3pm break until show, this is your time to get naps, get laid, get dinner, whatever, just be back for the 

6pm call at the Galleria. Andy will be handing out assignments. 

7 pm doors open. 7:30 lights and show time. Okay, 

== Scene 3 - Generating Buzz ==
Location - Serpent City Mall, In front of the food court.

The PCs are given use of a pickup truck to get themselves around. As they leave to go to the Mall, they hear the five wrestlers who'll be going to the promotion (Queen Bertha, Diamond Laroux, Holly Wood, Raven Dee Vine, and Knockout) peeling out in the parking lot.

Everything is going smoothly for the first hour of the promotion. The crowd grows in size around lunch. Fans are getting autographs signed, taking pictures with the ladies, or with standees of the Queen Bertha, who is the most popular. 15-20 minutes in, things start to go wrong. People start to feel not so well. There's been some bad food served at one of the restaurants at the food court, and at the same time people in the line begin to get restless and complain.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%"
| style="width:50%;vertical-align: top" |{{CortexPool|name=Trouble in Serpent City Mall|description=People are feeling sick, and someone is causing trouble - not directly, but by rabble rousing and making the crowd get uneasy and anxious.|width=|pool1_name=Raucous Crowd|pool1_die=8|pool1_count=3|pool2_name=Bad Food|pool2_die=6|pool2_count=4}}
| style="width:50%;vertical-align: top" |{{CortexMinorGMC
| name = Griff
| width = 100
| trait1 = Raconteur
| trait1_value = 8
| trait2 = Rabble Rouser
| trait2_value = 8
| trait3 = Crafty
| trait3_value = 8
}}
Griff does his best not to get involved directly with the scene. He will be noticed by the PCs but stands back, making comments and causing trouble within the crowd. He is the source of the raucous crowd. If someone does notice him, he is average height, wearing a spiked metal skull cap and a shiny jacket. When Raucous Crowd is eliminated, he is seen leaving scene.


Additionally, the PCs have 3 rounds in order to deal with the crisis pool. If they do not do so within this time, the mob in the next scene will be larger.
|}

== Scene 4 - The Big Night ==
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%"
| style="width:50%;vertical-align: top" |{{CortexLocation|name=Hydrus Galleria Convention Center Ballroom|description=A large convention ballroom, there is double-door entrance to the north, and a double-door entrance to the east. On the west are the restrooms. To the south are restrooms converted to dressing/greenroom for the wrestlers. The chairs are split into 4 quadrants, with aisles from the doors and restroom areas. The doors are the only points of entry, and are also where ticketing is handled.|distinction1=Squared Circle|distinction1_value=8|distinction2=Marks - the crowd|distinction2_value=8|distinction3=Equalizers - chairs, the Spanish announcer's table, generally anything people can have themselves smashed against.|distinction3_value=8|width=100}}
| style="width:50%;vertical-align: top" |{{CortexMinorGMC
| name = Griff
| width = 100
| trait1 = Raconteur
| trait1_value = 8
| trait2 = Rabble Rouser
| trait2_value = 8
| trait3 = Crafty
| trait3_value = 8
| trait4 = Metal Pipe
| trait4_value = 8
}}
Griff is back, and this time he's here to cause trouble. If the PCs focus on the inside, the fist indication there is trouble is when the PCs get word over their comm that there are people here trying to get into the venue. Note, if the crisis in the prior scene was not resolved within 3 rounds, the MRA mob rating with by be {{CortexDie|value=8}}instead of {{CortexDie|value=6}}. The Angry and Picket Sign traits remain unchanged.

{{CortexMob|name=Men's Rights Activists|rating=4|skill_level=6|description=A bunch of small dicked idiots who think they are 'alpha', but mostly being tricked by griff.|width=100|trait1=Angry|trait1_value=6|trait2=Picket Signs|trait2_value=6}}

Given enough time, they will get past the ladies who are stationed at the doors. As they do so, one of the "protesters" will go nose-first into a door, courtesy one of the lady wrestlers who are stationed at the door. 

Sam: "Jesus Christ, go out there and stop them! And at least try to make it entertaining!"

Don't forget, the PCs may have Bertha on their side as an asset. 
|}{{Gamesongs
|songtitle=[[wikipedia:The_Warrior_(song)|The Warrior]]
|songartist=[[wikipedia:Scandal_(American_band)|Scandal]]
|songalbum=[[wikipedia:Warrior_(Scandal_album)|Warrior]]
|spotify=https://open.spotify.com/track/3mbcW1KDbnkdgjq03JHiQ6
|amazonmusic=https://amazon.com/music/player/albums/B00136LUFE?marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER&musicTerritory=US&ref=dm_sh_MrDTQniD2NcgGyfcqyA3tjJpH&trackAsin=B00136PU9G
|youtube=https://youtu.be/47y5bo8wtqM
|songlyrics=https://genius.com/Scandal-the-warrior-lyrics
}}